IES20030192A2

IES20030192A2 - Drum clip-on handle

Info

Publication number: IES20030192A2
Application number: IE20030192A
Authority: IE
Inventors: William Alec Milligan
Original assignee: Preton Ltd
Priority date: 2003-03-14
Filing date: 2003-03-14
Publication date: 2004-06-16
Also published as: EP1608563B1; WO2004080834A1; ATE407884T1; EP1608563A1; DE602004016476D1; IE20040159A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a clip-on handle system for mounting a plastic handle (8) on a plastics drum (1) after moulding the drum (1). A rectangular mounting block (3) is integally moulded with a side wall (4) of the drum (1) and projects outwardly therefrom. A slide shoe (5) on which the handle (8) is mounted is slidably engagable with the mounting block (3). Spaced-apart paralllel slide rails (12) on the mounting block (3) engage a pair of complementary slide channels (14) in the slide shoe (5). A pair of inwardly extending flexible locking lugs (6) on the slide shoe (5) snap into engagement with associated receiver slots (7) on the mounting block (3) to secure the slide shoe (5) in engagement with the mounting block (3). <Figure 3>

Description

"Drum Clip-on Handle" This invention relates to clip-on handle assemblies for containers, and in particular plastics drums.

The invention particularly relates to a clip-on handle system for mounting a handle on a container such as a drum, said system comprising a complementary pair of cooperating mounting elements on the handle and on the container which are engagable to mount the handle on the container.

In the manufacture of plastics drums it is known to provide this type of clip-on handle system. During manufacture of the drams it is not always clear during assembly that the mounting elements have been fully engaged. If not property engaged and in particular if the drams are subject to rough handling in use, as is common, the mounting elements may disengage during handling of the drams leading to spillage and associated problems. Also, even when properly engaged these handles can often be removed without much difficulty and can disengage from the dram during use.

Further, the cooperating mounting elements in many of the known clip-on handle assemblies are rotatable relative to each other so that the handles can spin on the drum. These systems are not popular with those who handle the drams in use, as it is often necessary to orient the handles correctly on the dram before lifting the drum. If the handles are not properly aligned before lifting the dram, movement of the handles relative to the drum, or in some cases disengagement of the handles from the dram, can occur causing spillages and other handling problems.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming these problems.

The present invention is characterised by mounting elements which cooperate to orient the handle on the container and maintain the handle in the correct lifting position on the container. Thus advantageously the handles are always maintained in a position convenient for lifting the container to facilitate handling of the container. bit a . V- 1 OPEN TO PUBUC INSPECTION UNDER SECTION 28 ANC RULE 23 ’ JNt(fa_Q31a._____OFjdl4>A - 2 ΙΕΟ 30 192 Conveniently the handle is pivotally mounted on the handle mounting element for rotation about a single pivot axis, and the mounting elements cooperate such that when the handle is mounted on the container and the container is standing in an upright position said pivot axis is substantially horizontal. Thus the handle simply pivots vertically between a lowered stored position against an outer side wail of the container and a raised lifting position.

In another characterising aspect means is provided for locking the mounting elements in an engaged position.

The locking means may be provided by one or more locking lugs on one of the mounting elements for snap engagement with associated receiver slots in the other mounting element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment a pair of lugs are provided on the mounting element carrying the handle for snap engagement within complementary receiver slots in the associated mounting element on a side wall of the container. The lugs are sufficiently resilient to deflect into a disengaged position during engagement of the two mounting elements, and when said mounting elements are fully engaged the lugs align with and snap into the receiver slots.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the mounting elements comprise a mounting block and a complementary slide shoe which is slidably engagable with the mounting block, said mounting block being integrally formed with the container and projecting outwardly from a side wall of the container.

In another aspect the invention provides a container incorporating the clip-on handle system described herein. Preferably the container is a plastics drum The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an eievational view of a dram incorporating a clip-on handle system - 3 IE 0 30 19 j according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with a handle of the system removed to illustrate a handle mounting element of the system; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of cooperating handle mounting elements forming portion ofthe system, shown partially engaged; and Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a handle mounting element of the system.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a plastics drum according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 incorporating a clip-on handle system, also of plastics material, according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 2. The system 2 comprises a complementary pair of cooperating mounting elements, namely a mounting block 3 (best seen in Fig. 3) integrally moulded with the plastics drum 1 and projecting outwardly from a side wall 4 of the drum 1 and a complementary slide shoe 5 which is slidably engagable with the mounting block 3. A pair of locking lugs 6 on the mounting block 5 snap into engagement with associated receiver slots 7 in an outer face 15 of the mounting block 3 when the slide shoe 5 is engaged with the mounting block 3. A plastics handle 8 is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 9 on a pivot eye 10 on the mounting block 5. The handle 8 can pivot about a horizontal pivot axis between a lowered stored position against the side wall 4 of the drum 1 as shown in Fig. 1 and a raised lifting position.

Referring in particular to Fig. 3, the mounting block 3 is generally rectangular in shape. Slide rails 12 project outwardly at opposite sides ofthe mounting block 3 at outer side edges of the mounting block 3 for complementary sliding engagement with associated channel slots 14 formed in the slide shoe 5. The slots 7 are provided spaced-apart in an outer face 15 of the mounting block 3.

Referring in particular to Figs. 2 and 4 the slide shoe 5 is also of plastics material and has an outer panel 16 with an inwardly extending skirt 17 extending around each side and a lower end of the panel 16 leaving an opening 18 at an upper end tor reception of the mounting block 3. Channels 14 on an inside face of each side wall 19,20 of the IEO S019 2 - 4 skirt 17 slidably receive the rails 12 at each side of the mounting block 3. Thus it win be noted that the slide shoe 5 slides into engagement with the mounting block 3 in such a fashion as to prevent any rotation of the slide shoe 5 relative to the mounting block 3. That is once engaged it is in a fixed orientation on the drum 1.

The locking lugs 6 are mounted in openings 22 in the outer panel 16. Each lug 6 has a fixed end 24 mounted at an upper end 25 of the panel 16. A free lower or inner end 26 of each lug 6 extends downwardly towards a bottom end 27 of the skirt 17 and also projects inwardly away from an inside face 28 of the panel 16. Thus as the slide shoe 5 is slid onto the mounting block 3 the fixed ends 24 are sufficiently resilient such that the inner ends 26 of the lugs 6 are initially deflected outwardly flush with the inner face 28 of the panel 16 as the inner face 28 slides over the outer face 15 of the mounting block 3 . As the slide shoe 5 reaches the full engagement position the lugs 6 are freed and snap into engagement with the slots 7 in the outer lace 15 of the mounting block 3 to securely lock the slide shoe 5 on the mounting block 3. Thus the lugs 6 are effectively spring-loaded for snap engagement with the receiver slots 7. It will be noted that during assembly the audible dick as the lugs 6 engage will give an indication that the slide shoe 5 has been correctly and securely locked on the mounting block 3.

The pivot eye 10 projects outwardly from an outer face of the panel 16 as best seen in Fig. 2. A through hole 30 receives the pivot pin 9. The handle 8 has pivot arms 32 which embrace the pivot eye 10. Each arm 32 has a through hole for through passage of the pivot pin 9 to mount the handle 8 on the slide shoe 5.

An angled stop ramp 35 is positioned on the panel 16 above the pivot eye 10 and is engaged by and limits the upward movement of the handle 8 when the handle 8 is pivoted upwardly into the tiffing position. Thus in the lifting position the handle 8 projects outwardly and upwardly at an angle from the side wall 4 of the drum 1. in use, the mounting block 3 is integrally moulded with the drum 4 forming an outwardly projecting portion of the drum side wall 4. A pair of mounting blocks 3 are provided at opposite sides of the drum 1. Each of said mounting blocks 3 are engaged by an associated slide shoe 5 carrying a handle 8. The slide shoe 5 is simply slid upwardly into engagement with the mounting block 3 until the lugs 6 snap into - 5 engagement with the slots 7 thus securing the slide shoe 5 on the mounting block 3. The drum 1 thereafter can be lifted using the handles 8 as required.

It will be noted that the arrangement of the mounting elements, that is the mounting block and slide shoe is such that the handle 8 cannot swivel on the drum 4 but rather is held in the desirable lifting position on the drum t, being only able to pivot about the horizontal pivot axis between the stored position and the raised lifting position. The handle can thus be immediately gripped and used to lift the drum without any adjustment of the handle being necessary.

It will further be appreciated that the locking lugs 6 provide secure engagement of the slide shoe 5 on the mounting block 3 and prevent any inadvertent disengagement during use. Also, the snap engagement of the lugs 6 when fitting the slide shoe 5 on the mounting block 3 gives a positive indication to assembly workers that the slide shoe 5 and handle assembly has been correctly and securely mounted on the mounting block 3.

The drum may conveniently be a 30 litre or 60 titre open topped dram, however any suitable dram size may be provided.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A clip-on handle system for mounting a handle on a container such as a drum, said system comprising a complementary pair of cooperating mounting elements on the handle and on the container which are engagable to mount the handle on the container, characterised in that said pair of mounting elements include a first mounting element formed by a pair of spaced-apart substantially parallel slide rails which are engagable with a complementary pair of spaced-apart substantially parallel slide channels forming a second mounting element.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 which further includes locking means for securing the two mounting elements together, said locking means including at least one spring-loaded lug on one mounting element and a complementary receiver slot in the other mounting element, said lug engaging within the slot to secure the mounting elements together in a fully engaged position, and said lug being resiliently deformable between a normally extended position for engagement within the receiver slot and a collapsed position to allow sliding engagement of the two mounting elements, a pair of spaced-apart lugs being provided on one mounting element for engagement with a pair of complementary receiver slots on the other mounting element, wherein each lug is mounted on Ihe mounting element attached to the handle and the associated receiver slot is provided in the mounting element attached to the container.

3. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting elements comprise a rectangular mounting block and a complementary slide shoe which is slidably engagable with the mounting block, said mounting block being integrally formed with the container and projecting outwardly from a side wall of tie container, the mounting element to which the handle is attached comprises a slide shoe which is slidably engagable with the mounting block on the container, said slide shoe comprising an outer panel with an inwardly extending skirt extending around each side and a lower end of said outer panel leaving an opening at an upper end of said outer panel for reception of the mounting ¢030192 block, the slide channels being formed on an inner face of each side wall of the skirt for sliding engagement with the rails at each outer side edge of the mounting block. 5

4. A clip-on handle system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A container incorporating the clip-on handle system as claimed in any preceding claim.